Feature/OPED

X-Raying the Hidden Leadership Drive in Anioma-Born Tonna Okei

Published

2 years ago

29/07/2024

By Jerome-Mario Utomi

Anioma, loosely translated as good land, is situated in Delta State and precisely forms the Delta North Senatorial District in the present-day Delta State, South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria.

The people of Anioma are predominantly Igbo-speaking. In terms of population and landscape, Anioma nation as it is usually referred to could be likened to a dot in the map of Nigeria. But the people, in material terms, have through hard work, planning and improvising, established themselves in all critical sectors-finance, science/technology, sports, education and most importantly public leadership.

Also worthy of underlining is the fact that Anioma people daily manifest signs of a people that have left behind third-world challenges of illiteracy and poverty, to become a successful centre for the dissemination and distribution of the best human capital resources across the nation and beyond.

While this author celebrates these identified as well as yet-to-be-identified excellent human capitals of Anioma origin scattered all over the globe, assisting organizations and development agencies make far-reaching decisions, this piece on its part, specifically acknowledges the silent, salient and outstanding public leadership exploits at the global stage of a yet to be celebrated Ekuku Agbor born, Grand Knight Emeritus, President of the Organization of African Unity South Carolina, a Member of the Board of Trustee of the Knights of Columbus, a Notary Public, a Team Leader, Community leader, cultural enthusiastic and, Quality Assurance Bureau of the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

His resounding clamour for good governance and creative approach to people-focused public leadership recently came to mind after reading a news report on how the city of Columbia, headquarters of South Carolina, United States of America (USA), came alive as Tonna Okei led Pan African Inter-Nation, an umbrella socio-cultural organization of all Africans resident in South Carolina, held its second edition of Jollof Rice Competition In South Carolina.

Aside from being an annual event by Okei’s African residents in South Carolina, USA, to among other objectives celebrate the African continent’s rich cultural heritage, particularly in the area of food, very newsy about this year’s gathering is that it had the Ghana Ambassador to the US, Her Excellency, Madam Ambassador Hajia Alima Mahama, who was on a state visit to South Carolina, in attendance among other dignitaries, and fundamentally provided an avenue for bilateral talks between the members of the South Carolina Organization of Africa Unity (OAU), Pan African Inter-Nation and the Ghana Embassy in the United States of America.

Beyond this latest event, there are of course more significant and critical leadership attributes daily displayed by Okei that amply qualify him as a nationalist and good governance advocate whose efforts must not be allowed to go with political winds uncelebrated but harnessed for the overall interest of the nation.

Adding context to the discourse, Knight Sir Tonna Celestine Okei was born on January 16, 1975, in Surulere, Lagos state, a few days after the Udoji commission pay increase started and his mother collected her first payment and thus named him Tonna (Praise God). Tonna was born in the family of Lady Felicia Okei and Barrister Sir George Okei, a former Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affair in the now-rested Bendel state.

He attended Ika Grammar School, Agbor, Delta State, Government College Eric Moore, Command Day Secondary school, Army Cantonment Ojo Barracks Lagos and Government College Ughelli, the University of Benin, Georgia State University and the University of South Carolina graduating with an Associate in Social Works, Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work. He holds an Oracle DBA 10i certificate in Database management and is a UNIX-certified Manager, he holds an associate in public management. Tonna is a Behavioural Analyst and Quality Assurance guru who has lived in the United States for about 17 years (2007).

Despite this long sojourn in a foreign land (United States of America), he is daily consumed with how to make Agbor kingdom, Delta state and the Nation Nigeria, a geographical entity, where peace, justice and holistic and sustainable development reign supreme. His promotion and adoration for African culture is not only exemplary but legendary.

As part of his persistent resolve to foster collaboration, attract development and international respect to Delta state and Nigeria as a whole, Tonna has, at different times and places met and discussed with the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, addressed South Carolina Bishop conference, hosted the Major of Accra, Ghana, endorsed then senatorial candidate but now senator Tameika Dorsett of the United States of America, received in audience the Sheriff of the Richland County, Leon Lott, Visited the President of the University of South Carolina, addressed South Carolina Bishops Conference, addressed the Mayor and Council, Eastover Council, hosted/honoured by the SC Legislative Black Caucus, received the Mayoral Community leadership award, advocated for stricter gun laws in the United States, visited the Irish Deputy Senate President in the company of the former First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Eki Igbinedion among others.

Again, in keeping with his development-oriented culture, Tonna, a detribalized Nigeria, who is married to Mrs Oluwatoyin Okei (Yeye Asoju Oba), from the South Western Nigeria and blessed with six children and a granddaughter, recently brokered/ facilitated a meeting between key political figures in Delta state and management of South Carolina University, aimed at seeing the Delta state-owned Universities in Asaba and Agbor, establish affiliate relationship with the Faculty of Education, South Carolina, USA, where anyone graduating from Department of Education in Asaba or Agbor would already have passed their state exams in South Carolina and qualify for teaching job in South Carolina.

Asked by newsmen to give insight as to what inspired such a move, Tonna responded that; there is an acute shortage of teachers in South Carolina. So, the aim here is to accommodate the State Teacher Certificate into the curriculum in Asaba and Agbor. So, what does that mean? If you are graduating from the Department of Education in Asaba or Agbor, you have already passed all the certifications in South Carolina. So, when you graduate from the Department of Education in Asaba or Agbor, you are employed in South Carolina. Do you know what that means for Asaba and Agbor? He queried.

He further argued that with such a mutual relationship with South Carolina in place, the students in West Africa will want to go to Asaba and Agbor because they know that when they graduate from the Education Department, they already have a job in South Carolina waiting for them. So, that is one of the major factors that will make Asaba and Agbor the centre of education in West Africa.

Okei observed that it is going to make the University sustainable. That would make those two universities sustainable. They would not need to depend on the governor as any parent in West Africa, when they hear of this information, they can be sending their kids to Asaba and Agbor because when they graduate, they already have a job waiting for them.

According to him, every year, South Carolina goes to Romania, South Africa, and non-English speaking nations to employ teachers and yet, we have teeming youths in Asaba, in Agbor, in Delta state. You know what that means for Anioma. If your brother or nephew can go to education department in Asaba and Agbor and they graduate, there’s a job already waiting for them in South Carolina. That is going to be a landmark project, he concluded.

As someone laced with unwavering commitment to, and respect for the traditional stool of Dein, the revered paramount ruler of Agbor kingdom and African culture, Okei was visibly present when His Majesty (HRM) Dein, Doctor Kiarekugbei was honoured in faraway United States of America by South Carolina legislative for his good works, for Agbor and the world at large.

In the area of security, it was in the news that when Rt Hon. Festus Okoh, Member of the Delta state House of Assembly (DTHA), visited the United States for the Agbor Convention 2023, Sir Tonna Okei went with him to the Sheriff of Richland County where they discussed how the sheriff can assist Delta state increase capacity in Security Network, diplomacy and respect for rule of law. The sheriff reportedly expressed to the delegation, his willingness to work with and render such service to Delta State as soon as the necessary invitation is received from the state government and other relevant agencies.

Also, in the area of legislative matters, Tonna reportedly engineered a meeting with the South Carolina Legislative arm where the Hon. Chuky Dandy met with the Chairman of the State Legislative Office. They reportedly discussed areas of mutual benefits where Delta State House of Assembly members can come down to South Carolina for a retreat or to observe them doing plenary; and discuss how they can add value to Delta state legislature in terms of what it means to be a legislator and how they can use the legislative arm in South Carolina to assist Delta in terms of education, science and technology.

For example, for most of the science equipment, they no longer need or have in surplus, they can adopt Delta State as a twin city where they offer Delta state equipment for free using OAU as a platform. They agreed that they would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) when the state legislature visits South Carolina.

In recognition of their contribution to the black race in the United States, a special guest of honour and representative of the Haiti community in South Carolina at a recent function in the United States declared that Tonna be known and addressed as the Kwame Nkrumah the second, a motion which was wholeheartedly adopted.

Now, here at home, looking at the above efforts and selfless contributions and celebration of this citizen by the people of other nations, this piece holds the opinion that it will be highly rewarding if he is consulted or better still, drafted by the state or the nation into mainstream responsibility to assist the people of Delta state and Nigeria at large find sustainable solution to the present hydra-headed leadership predicament afflicting the nation. This, in my view, should be done not for political reasons but for the survival of our democracy and the people.

Jerome-Mario, a media specialist, writes from Lagos Nigeria. He can be reached via [email protected]/08032725374

Up Next

The Call for a Nationwide Protest Should Have Been Avoided

Don't Miss

Nigerian Government Announces Jobs, Grants to Avert Impending Protest

Business Post Contributor

Click to comment

Feature/OPED

AI and Cybercrime in Nigeria: Can Weak Laws Support Strong Technology?

Published

6 hours ago

06/05/2026

Business Post Contributor

By Nafisat Damisa

Introduction

The proliferation of generative AI has transformed Nigeria’s cybercrime landscape, enabling deepfake fraud, automated social engineering, and AI-enhanced phishing at scale. In early 2024, scammers using AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating a company’s CFO defrauded a Hong Kong finance worker of $25.6 million. As similar threats emerge in Nigeria’s fintech sector, this article examines whether the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (as amended 2024) is legally adequate, or whether Nigeria’s evidentiary and accountability frameworks are too weak to support effective prosecution of AI-driven cybercrime

Current Legal Landscape
Nigeria’s primary legal framework on preventing cybercrime is the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, amended in 2024 to address cryptocurrency transactions, cyberbullying and various forms of digital misconduct. Complementary frameworks include the National Information Technology Development Agency Act 2007, the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, and sectoral regulations such as the CBN’s Risk-Based Cybersecurity Framework. However, the majority of these frameworks were issued far before now, and emerging risks like AI-driven threats are not really being addressed. The Act nowhere mentions “artificial intelligence,” “algorithm,” or “autonomous system.” Notably, the National Artificial Intelligence Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2025, is currently pending before the Senate. If passed, it would establish a dedicated commission to coordinate AI strategy, research, and ethical deployment. However, the Bill in its present form focuses primarily on development and innovation promotion, with limited provisions on criminal liability, evidence handling, or enforcement against AI-facilitated cybercrime, leaving the core accountability and evidentiary gaps largely unaddressed.

AI as a Double-Edged Sword
AI paradoxically enables both defence and attack. Nigerian financial institutions deploy AI for real-time fraud detection and pattern recognition. Conversely, cybercriminals exploit generative AI for deepfake creation, automated credential stuffing, and convincing phishing tailored to Nigerian English and Pidgin. The same technology that powers fraud detection systems can be weaponised to evade them. Take justice delivery as an example, the Evidence Act 2011 (as amended 2023) admits computer-generated evidence under Section 84, but remains silent on AI’s capacity to seamlessly generate or alter electronic records, creating “doctored AI-generated evidence”. These and many more issues await Nigeria’s digital space in the coming years.

The Legal Gaps

There are multiple critical gaps that undermine AI governance. For this article, three are considered. First, no framework attributes criminal liability when an autonomous AI commits an offence. The question of whether the developer, user, or owner should bear criminal responsibility for the acts of an autonomous system remains entirely unanswered under Nigerian law, leaving prosecutors without a clear legal theory of culpability.

Second, Section 84 of the Evidence Act 2011 governs computer-generated evidence but does not address AI-generated outputs. The Act’s definition of “computer” excludes AI’s cognitive processing capabilities, creating a statutory blind spot where evidence produced by generative or autonomous systems falls outside the existing admissibility framework.

Third, Nigeria lacks any framework for mandatory AI-generated content labelling, impeding deepfake traceability. Computer-generated evidence under Section 84 of the Evidence Act 2011 remains admissible if unchallenged at trial, a dangerous precedent for AI evidence, as opposing parties may lack the technical capacity to mount any challenge at all.

Comparative Jurisdictions: Rich Laws, Tangible Results

Jurisdictions with advanced AI laws demonstrate clear outcomes. The EU AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689) mandates transparency obligations, requiring synthetic content labelling and informing individuals when interacting with AI systems; non-compliance triggers significant penalties. The US Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2023 is a proposed Act that will require impact assessments for high-risk AI systems in housing, credit, and employment, with FTC enforcement and a public repository. China implemented mandatory measures for the Identification of AI-generated (Synthetic) content. These rules, mandated by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and others, require explicit (visible labels) and implicit (watermarks/metadata) identification for all AI-generated text, images, audio, video, and virtual scenes to ensure transparency, traceability, and combat disinformation. These laws contribute to measurable results: forensic traceability, expedited prosecution of deepfake fraud, and clear liability chains. Nigeria has none of these.

Hope or Illusion?

Without legislative intervention, AI’s promise against cybercrime remains an illusion. Nigeria requires the following to boost its hope:

Amendment of the Cybercrimes Act to include AI-specific offences and mandatory content provenance standards;
Revision of Section 84 of the Evidence Act 2011 to address AI-generated evidence credibility, not merely admissibility;
Investment in digital forensic capabilities is currently hampered by inadequate enforcement, weak forensic capabilities, and a lack of specialised personnel; and
A risk-based framework drawing from EU and US models.
Review of both secondary and tertiary education curricula to address the knowledge gap in AI and prepare the next generation for the AI-driven future.

Conclusion

AI can help curb cybercrime in Nigeria, but only if legal capacity catches up with technical capability. The Cybercrimes Act 2024 amendments were a step forward, but they did not address AI accountability, algorithmic transparency, or evidentiary credibility. The pending National Artificial Intelligence Commission Bill, 2025, signals legislative awareness, but without substantive provisions on liability, evidence, and enforcement, it cannot fill the existing gaps. The effectiveness of existing frameworks remains a question. An optimistic but cautious path exists, but until Nigeria enacts AI-specific legislation, whether through amending the Cybercrimes Act, revising the Evidence Act, or strengthening the pending Bill, weak laws will remain unable to support strong technology.

Nafisat Damisa is a Legal Research Associate in Olives and Candles – Legal Practitioners. For further information, enquiries, or clarification, please contact Nafisat via: [email protected] or [email protected]

Feature/OPED

Before Oil Hits $150: A Warning Nigeria Cannot Ignore

Published

2 days ago

05/05/2026

Business Post Contributor

By Isah Kamisu Madachi

As of April 30, 2026, the crude price is said to have reached $125 in the global market. The all-time high price per barrel was recorded in 2008, when it surged to $147. It is obvious that the price is heading in that direction or even towards what experts have predicted — crude reaching a new all-time high of $150 in the near future if crude passages remain closed in the Middle East, which would ultimately come with several disproportionate challenges for businesses and households.

In Nigeria, what began as a mild adjustment in the price of gasoline and other refined crude products has not stopped anywhere until it reached N1,400 per litre of petrol at filling stations. When the price was surging, experts in energy, economics, marketing, business and other relevant fields tried to come up with explanations for how Nigeria, despite housing the largest petrochemicals refinery in Africa and being one of the largest oil-exporting countries on the continent, would continue to absorb this shock.

Despite our advantages, Nigeria recorded the world’s second-highest surge in petrol prices following the escalating geopolitical tension in the Middle East. In Africa, Nigeria has the highest spike, with many sources citing it at 39.5% and above. Even non-oil-producing countries in Africa, and countries that do not refine a drop of oil, did not experience this surge. Also, African countries like South Africa at 1%, Morocco at 2.1%, and Tanzania at 2.7% experienced far smaller increases that are nowhere near Nigeria’s.

To put it in context, South Korea, Japan, and China are among the foremost dependents on the Strait of Hormuz, whose closure escalated the crude price, but none of these countries has recorded even a 20% increase in their petrol prices. Nigeria does not import its crude through the Strait of Hormuz. Yet, as an oil-exporting nation, we have suffered some of the sharpest petrol price increases in Africa.

What went wrong in Nigeria to warrant this surge is not the primary focus of this piece. What lies ahead is. As a result of the increase in petrol prices, Nigerians have been disproportionately affected. Life has become unbearably difficult, with sharp increases in transportation costs, rising food prices, and higher costs of goods and services. Even charging points that used to collect N150 for charging a phone or battery now charge N300 or more.

As it stands, the gap between the current crude price and the predicted new all-time high is about $25. This means that if the passages continue to remain closed, we are not far from another historic price peak. It is even said that reopening the passages may not immediately stabilise prices, as crude tankers would still take time to reach their destinations.

What this means for Nigeria is another sharp increase in refined petroleum product prices, which could trigger another wave of stagflation. Already struggling, Nigerians do not deserve this. They are only just adapting to the post-subsidy era, yet are being hit again by another round of global geopolitical tensions. Many are already in deep energy poverty, with businesses struggling due to unstable electricity supply.

Therefore, as crude oil prices hover above $125 per barrel and threaten to reach the predicted $150 if disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz persist, Nigeria must act decisively to shield its citizens. The Dangote Refinery exists. Nigeria refines oil. What the federal government owes Nigerians at this point is a deliberate policy decision to make that the refinery serve domestic needs first, with pricing that does not mirror whatever is happening in the global market. That is not complicated; other oil-producing countries do exactly this.

The NMDPRA has the authority to act on this. The question is whether there is a political will to act before another price wave hits and Nigerians are once again left to absorb what their counterparts elsewhere never have to.

Sub-national governments also have something to do. Commercial motorcyclists and small business owners are the people who feel every petrol price increase the hardest and the fastest. Pushing CNG and LPG adoption among this group beyond the FCT and Lagos, with genuine support, would cushion a significant part of the next shock. Expanding solar access in underserved communities would do the same. A shop owner running on solar is not at the mercy of the next diesel price spike.

These solutions are quite feasible. Nigeria has attempted versions of them before. Where we often seem to get it wrong is in execution, and Nigeria has to treat this with the same urgency and seriousness as given to elections, for the well-being of its citizens. The only thing that has never matched the problem is the seriousness of the response.

Isah Kamisu Madachi is a policy analyst and development practitioner. He writes via [email protected]

Feature/OPED

A Simple Guide to Obtaining Pension Clearance Certificate in Nigeria

Published

2 days ago

04/05/2026

Business Post Contributor

By Gbolahan Oluyemi

In 2025, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) directed all Licensed Pension Fund Operators (LPFOs) to demand a Pension Clearance Certificate (PCC) from service providers before engaging their services. This new policy typically affects various types of entities, including small and medium-scale enterprises, most of which are not usually compliance-driven. Following this directive, the PCC has become an essential compliance document for both large, medium and small-scale firms. This article provides a guide on what a PCC is, why it matters, and how it can be obtained.

What is a Pension Clearance Certificate (PCC)?

A Pension Clearance Certificate (PCC) is an official document issued by PenCom confirming that an organisation has complied with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act. It is an annual document that must be renewed every year at no cost. The yearly renewal is intended to ensure that organisations treat compliance as a continuous activity rather than a one-off act.

Why is a PCC Important?

The PCC is important because it demonstrates that an organisation is compliant with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act, especially as it relates to employee pension contributions under Section 4 (1) of the Pension Reform Act and subscription to group life insurance under Section 4 (5) of the Pension Reform Act. It is also required for certain transactions, such as government contracts and engagements with compliance-sensitive partners. In essence, a PCC assures investors, partners, and clients that your business is properly structured and compliant with regulatory requirements.

Who Needs a Pension Clearance Certificate?

Under Nigerian law, companies with three or more employees are required to participate in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). If your organisation employs at least three staff members and provides or intends to provide services to Licensed Pension Fund Operators (LPFOs) or other regulated entities, you are expected to obtain a PCC annually.

How Do I Obtain a PCC?

PenCom issues the PCC electronically and at no cost through its web portal: https://pcc.pencom.gov.ng/. Please note that Applicants who are just beginning compliance and remitting employees’ pensions are required to first obtain an employer code from a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA). This code is necessary to initiate the PCC application on the PenCom portal.

Upon logging into the portal, you will be required to complete your company profile by providing your date of incorporation, contact details, and website (if applicable), as well as uploading your CAC documents.

Next, you will upload an Excel schedule (using the template provided on the website) containing your employee list. After this, you will be required to upload Excel sheets detailing pension contributions. You will also need to upload your organisation’s group life insurance documentation and payment instrument.

Finally, you will review your application and submit it for further processing by PenCom. Before commencing an application, ensure you have the following:

Certificate of Incorporation (CAC documents)
Group Life Insurance Policy for employees
Evidence of Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) registration for employees
Three years’ proof of monthly pension remittances, including penalties for any defaults (where applicable). For companies less than three years old, provide proof of remittances from the date of incorporation
A valid Tax Identification Number (TIN)
An employee schedule showing staff details and contributions (usually in Excel format) Templates are available on the PenCom portal

Also note that for the portal to accept employee details and remittance records, employees must have completed their data capture with their respective Pension Fund Administrator and updated their records to reflect their current employer.

Conclusion

Obtaining a Pension Clearance Certificate in Nigeria may seem technical at first, but once proper processes are established, it becomes routine. The key is consistency in remittance, maintenance of accurate records and prioritisation of compliance in overall operations.

For many Nigerian businesses, the PCC is more than a regulatory requirement; it is a mark of credibility. In a competitive environment, that credibility can make all the difference.

Gbolahan Oluyemi is a Legal Practitioner and currently leads Olives and Candles – Legal Practitioners. For further information, enquiries, or clarification, please contact Gbolahan via: [email protected] or [email protected]